Fumigating apparatus.



S. M. HEXTER & F. E. STEWART.

FUMIGATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17. I916.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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SANDFORD M. HEXTER AND FRANCIS E. STEWART, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE HEXTER-STEWART CORPORATION, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

FUMIGATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that we, SANDFORD M. HEX- TER and FnANcIsE. STEWART, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the 5, county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fumigating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de scription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to disinfecting apparatus, and particularly to that typeof apparatus in which a vaporizable medicament is volatilized by heat for fumigation purposes.

Certain medicaments are preferably employed in combined form, being contained in separate receptacles and combined while in the vaporized condition, and one of the objects of this invention is the provision of means whereby the two containers can be heated simultaneously, without destroying the usefulness of the apparatus for use with a single simple fumigant if desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of great cheapness and simplicity in view of the well known prac tice of throwing away the apparatus after a single use; the employment of simplified and novel features of adjustability and arrangement; while further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application we have shown a device as particularly adapted for use in formaldehyde fumigation in the course of which paraformaldehyde is volatilized in the presence of water vapor so as to become 4 polymerized into free formaldehyde, al-

though it will be understood that this is only one of the many forms which the apparatuscan take, and that we do not limit ourselves to the combined use above suggested.

In these drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete device; Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectional view; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the water reservoir removed; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and looking downwardly, the heating element or lamp being omitted.

Describing the parts by reference characters 1 represents an annular water compart ment or reservoir and 2 a medicament receptacle of a size and shape to fit into said water reservoir and having at its upper end the flaring flange 3 adapted to cover said receptacle, the margin of said flange preferably terminating in a downturned lip a adapted to embrace the reservoir. This flange is preferably formed with a plurality of apertures 5 forming vents, and the top of the receptacle 2 is formed with an aperture 6 normally closed by the friction cover 7 or other suitable closure. For supporting this water receptacle we provide a stand of suitable character, preferably comprising a circular ring 10 adapted to receive said reservoir and having a suitable ledge 11 for supporting the bottom of said reservoir, said ring also being formed with a supporting portion such as the depending legs 1212 to which is attached a second ring 13 adapted to rest on the table or other support. Adjustably secured to the legs l2-12 is a shelf or like support 14 upon which is located the heating element 15, here shown as a metallic container filled with solidified alcohol or other combustible. The shelf 14 is shown as formed with a pair of apertures 16, 17, and

the bottom of the heating element with a p ro ection 18 adapted to be inserted in either aperture. For supporting the shelf 14:, each of the legs 12 is formed with spaced horizontal corrugations 1919 adapted to receive the ends of the shelf which are suitably conformed thereto. The shelf can be released for adjustment by squeezing the ring 13 into oblong form as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, its normal elasticity being sufficient to hold the parts in their desired posltion.

When the apparatus is to be used for paraformaldehyde and water, the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 2, the lamp being arranged so as to heat both receptacles and at such a height that its flame is most effective. The receptacle 2 is preferably of a size to fit freely into the receptacle 1 having a narrow space for the passage of the combustion products which ultimately escape through the apertures 5. This subjects all parts of the receptacle 2 to the action of the flame and insures the complete volatilization of its contents. This also -effects a peculiarly efficient heating of the water chamber regardless of drafts and the like. The simultaneous heating of the water and medicamentserves to volatilize the tWo simultaneously with the result that a peculiarlyeflicient and convenient fumigation is secured. In case'the medicament be one which does not require the use of water or other reagent or in case the water or other reagent be injected in some other form from some other generator, the water bath may be omitted as shown in Fig. 3 and the flange 3 supported immediately upon the ring 10, the size of the parts having been chosen for this purpose. The shelf 14 is lowered so "that the lamp may bear its most efiicient re 7 having a laterally extending portion adapted to resteither on the top of said chamber or on the top of said support, a heating device Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the carried by said support, and means for holding said heating device so as to operate upon said receptacle alone or said receptacle and chamber simultaneously as desired.

2. In a device of the character described, a liquid receiving chamber, a medicament receptacle adapted to fit against a wall of said chamber, a heating device, and a support, said support being adapted to hold either said receptacle alone or said receptacle and chamber together and having provisions whereby said heating device may be devoted to said receptacle alone or to said chamber and receptacle jointly.

3. In a device of the character described, an annular liquid receiving chamber, a medicament receptacle supported within the opening of the inner wall thereof and spaced from said wall to define a narrow passageway, and a vapor fuel burner located beneath said receptacle.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto afiix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

SANDFORD M. HEXTER. FRANCIS E. STEWART.

Witnesses:

GERTRUDE KAsLINsKI, OLIVER M. CARTWRIGHT.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

